Partition riser



Jan. 1, 1935;

E. B. SARGQENT INVE TOR.

$6M WWW A4; A TTORNEYS.

J 5, E. B. SARGENT 1,986,122

PARTITION RISER Filed June 24, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 o ELQM -13 INVE TOR. W 5. 24 4 BY 14M TTORNEYS.

Jan. 1, 1935.

E. SARGENT PARTITION RISER Filed June 24, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 {Kg/V Tog. BY g, 3422 rm #2 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PARTITION RISER Application June 24, 1932, Serial No. 619,091

12 Claims.

This invention relates to underfloor wiring conduit systems for buildings, and more particularly to apparatus for establishing outlets in the partitions or walls of a building having a metallic base floor formed of a plurality of closely spaced, hollow sheet metal beams.

One object of this invention is to provide fittings for converting the hollow beams of a sheet metal base floor into underfloor conduits, whereby electrical wiring may be led into the beams and fittings for facilitating the withdrawal of the wiring from the runs of the beams.

A further object is to provide a fitting for establishing electricalservice outlets in the partitions of a building having a hollow metallic beam base floor forming an underfloor wiring conduit system.

These and other objects which will hereinafter I be made apparent to those skilled in this particular art are accomplished by means of this invention, one embodiment of which'is described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of a hollow beam sheet metal base floor equipped with a fitting embodying my invention for securing access to the interior of the beams.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the fitting.

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section of the fitting shown in Figure 2. g

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section of a modified form of my improved fitting. I

Fig. 5 is a view in section taken on lines V-V of Figure 4, and

Fig. 6 is a section taken online VI--VI of Figure 4.

In general, the present invention contemplates the provision of fittings for the hollow beams of a sheet metal base floor for establishing communication between the interior of the beams and a junction box of the type adapted to be positioned in a wall of a building whereby the interiors of-the beams form runs for electrical wiring. These fittings may, for convenience, be termed risers, since the top of the fitting is adapted to extend above the top of the beam. This upstanding-partof the riser maybe free standing orit may be concealed within a wall or partition; To enable electricservice to be furnished at a desired location within the building such as in partitionwalls intermediate of the length of the beams, my invention also contemplates a fitting or riser for facilitating the fishing or withdrawal of the electric wires from the runs in the beams so that an outlet may be formed in the top of the riser. The riser may also be used to'introduce the wires into the beams, and also for the reintroduction of the wires into the interior of the beams after they have been fished out and an outlet connection established.

These fittings may be of any desired sectional shape and of a predetermined height suflicient to extend above the surface of the finish floor when the fittings are operatively positioned on the beams. The lower end of the fitting is adapted to be received within the interior of and to engage the side walls of the beams so that the wires being led through the beams will engage this portion of the fitting and be deflected up out of the beams. The lower ends of the fitting or riser are rounded to provide wire pulling surfaces forsafeguarding against damage to the insulation on the wires being pulled into or out of the beams.

The deflecting portions on the risers used at the ends of the beams face in the direction of the run of the-beams and completely close the ends thereof. The risers adapted to be used in the partition walls intermediate of the ends of the beam are preferably divided into two compartments, each of which has a rounded deflector on the lower end thereof. These deflectors face in opposite directions and permit wiring to be drawn into the fitting from opposite runs of the beam and also enable the wiring to be reinserted into the runs of the beam and continued to another part of the building after an outlet has been established in the partition wall.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have illustrated a metallic base flooring 10 comprising an under sheet 11 and an upper sheet 12 which are pre-formed o'r corrugated to form a series of closely spaced, hollow floor beams 13. In the construction of the building, the sections of the sheet metal flooring 10 are mounted directly on the steelwork of the building and are so arranged that the interior of the beams in one section open into the interior of the adjoining longitudinal sections thereby forming a series of closely spaced passageways extending from one part of the building to another, which are suitable for use as conduits or runs for electric wiring. These beams 13 are usually spaced on six inch centers and when made accessible through the use of my improved fittings, form a highly flexible underfloor wiring conduit system.

In order to secure access to the interior of the beams 13 so that feed wires may be led into the beam from a junction box 14 of the type adapted to bepositioned in the wall of a building, and through which conductors are led from a suitable source of electric supply, I provide a fitting or riser 15 which is erected upon pre-selected of the beams 13 preferably before the finish flooring is superimposed on the tops of the beams, and which opens into'the box 14 and the top of the beams.

The riser 15 comprises a hollow elongated body of any sectional shape and of a height sullicient to extend into a partition wall above the surface of the finish floor. One face of the hollow member 15 is provided with an opening 16 adjacent to the top thereof which is adapted to communicate with an opening 'formed in the box 14.

So that diiferent types of electric service may be supplied to different beams 13 of the base floor, the box 14 (as shown) is divided into a plurality of runs 1'1, the number of which depends, of course, upon the number of difierent types of electric service to be supplied in the building. In Fig. 1, I have shown the box 14 as being provided with two runs, each of which is operatively connected to selected of the beams 13 by one of my risers 15. While I have shown only one riser for each of the runs 1'1, it is understood that as many of the beams 13 may be provided with risers communicating with the runsl'lasaredesiredtobeusedforeachtype of service, and the risers 15 opening into one of therunsl'lmaybesospaeedthattheyarein communication with alternate beams when two difierent types of service are being furnished in.

the building and with every third beam when three types of electrical service are being supplied.

In the erection of one of the partition risers 15, a hole is cut through the top of selected beams 13 and the lower end of the fitting is arranged to project into the interior of the beam. To facilitate thewithdrawal of the feed wires being inserted into the hollow beams 13, the lower end of the riser 15 is provided with a de-' fleeting member 18 which fills the interior of thebmmandisadaptedtoengagethesidewalls andbottomofthebeamsothatthewireswill bedeflected upinto'the hollowbodyofthe-riser, toenablethefeedwirestobereadilycohnected totheconductorsintherunsl'l. Inorderto protecttheinsulafiononthefeedwiresinserted intotheeellsthelowerendofthewallofthe fittinglmvingtheopeninglfithereinisextended intothebeamandbenttoionnawellrounded pullingsuriaeefloverwhichthewiresmaybe drawn. Theromrdedsln'faeemissrbstantially mralleltothemember18.'

- 'l'heparfitimriserlsisheldinplacemthe beam byaplatemembu'losewredtothebotflameszlontheedgesthereofwhichueshaped tofitoverandcoverthetopandsidesofthe beam. 'l'hisplatememberzomaybeweldedto thebenmBm-securedtheretoinany-other suitablemannergandmtmlyholdstheriserin opuativerflafimto'thebelm,butaborestores Theriser15 flicparliiitnsdthelmiklingaswellastoestabliflihetweenflieinteriorofthe belmsandasafieebox. tim outlets the 16 form seats for whenitislbsiredtoanoutletina parlitirnwallintmaediateofthelengthofthe ml leferronseamodifledformnfmy Thismodifiedfmmoffiserasshowninfigs. 4, 5,.and 6, ahollow, elongated memberZSnfanysecfimlshapeandafa ings28formedinthefrontandrearfaces,re-

spectively, of the body 25. The lower portion of theriser25isprovidedwithtwodeflecting members29and30whieharemountedonthe lower end of a partition wall 31 subdividing the hollow member 25 into two compartments as illustratedinFigureL 'Theupper-endofthe partition member is arranged to terminate slightlybelowthebottmnoftheopeningsfll inthemember25toaflordaccestoeitherof the compartments ofthe fitting, and the upper end of the partition wall 31 is preferably bent over to form a rounded pulling edge 32 to permit wiring tobe drawn thereover without being '111edeflectingmembens29and30areshaped to substantially correspmd to the shape and sizeoftheinteriorotthebeamsandcooperate withthebottmnofthebeamtodeflectandguide thewiringbeingflshed"ordrawnthroughone ofthebeamsintooneotthecompartmentsot the-fitting. Thefittingisheldinplaceonthe beam 13 by a plate munber 33 having dependingfla'ngesidalongthesidesthereofwhich cover thetopandsidesofthe beam, respectively. Theplatemember33maybesecuredtothe beamsinanysuitablewaysothattheoriginal strengthofthebeamwillberestoredthereto.

Thelowerendofthesidewallsoftheriser 25 are preferably extended into the interior ofthebeamandarebenttnformarolmded portion35overwhichthcwiringmayhedrawn withoutdamaeetoitsinsilation. lhepartition wall31maybeiormedinanysuitablemanner' andsecuredtothesidesofthehollowmember 25inanysuitahbmanner. InFigure6,the

flanges36alongthesidesthereofwhiehare rivetedtotbesidesotthehollowmunberzs.

----itisapparu1tthatmy improvedflttingJnwimthehollowbeamsofasheetmetilhlsefloonpmvidea athewidth ofthesothatflnemtlet opmingatthe'topofpthemunbuwillheexposedandimdily.

Bydividingthehnllowmunberdtbefltfing intotwo eomparimmtsandhavingtwooppositelydisposed deflectursseeuredthereto, itis possible tosupply one endotthecfloorbeamtoflieothersinceflm k means outlet, and then re-insertedinto the beam through the other compartment and led to another portion of the building where an outlet is desired. -It is alsoapparent that several of the risers having two oppositely disposed deflectors may be operatively positioned in each of the beams of the floor so that outlets may be formed where desired. These risers permit the electric wires to be readily introduced into or withdrawn from the interior of the beams.

It is also readily apparent that I have provided fittings for converting the hollow beams of a sheet metal base floor into an underfloor wiring system in which single fittings are provided for securing access into the interior of the beams at the ends thereof, and double fittings for securing outlets-intermediate of the length of the beams.

While I have shown the intermediate fitting as having two compartments, it is to be understood that a riser having a single compartment may be'used intermediate of the ends of the beam. When such a fitting is installed intermediate of the length of the beam and it is desired to make the other end of the beam available as a run for electric wiring, another fitting similar to the first must be erected on the beam so that the deflecting-member on the second fitting or riser faces in the opposite direction from the defiector on the first fitting or riser.

' While I have shown my fittings or risers as applied to a hollow sheet metal base fioor of a specific construction, it is to be understood that the fittings may be applied to any type of hollow beam flooring without departing from the spirit of my invention. It will also be understood that the invention may be embodied in beam, and a portion extending above said beam for receiving an outlet connection. 7

2. The combination with a flooring conduit provided with an opening in the top thereof, of a hollow fitting mounted uponthe conduit and having a curved portion extending down into the conduit whereby a wire introduced into the top of said fitting will be' deflected into said conduit by the curved portion'thereof.

3. A fitting of the character described adapted to be mounted upon ahollow beam toform an electrical conduit, comprising an upright hollow member having an outlet opening in the upper portion thereof, and a deflector projecting downwardly into and engaging the bottom-of the,

' electrical conduit for deflecting wiring during movement thereof from the conduit up into the fitting.

I 4. A fitting of the character described comprising an upright hollow member having an outlet receiving opening in a lateral portion thereof, and a deflector extending downwardly and outwardly from a wall of said hollow member for deflecting a wiremoved against the same from a direction at substantially right angles to the plane of said wall, up into the fitting.

5. A fltting of the character described, comprising an upright conduit having an outlet opening in the upper portion thereof, a longitudinally extending partition member within the conduit terminating below the upper end of the conduit, and a pair of oppositely disposed deflectors extending downwardly and outwardly from the plane of said partition member, said deflectors facilitatingin the directing of wires from a direction at substantially right angles to the plane ofthe partition member up into the fitting.

6. A fitting of the character described, comprising an upright conduit having an outlet opening in the upper portion thereof, an outwardly extended deflector depending from said conduit-for deflecting a wire from a direction at substantially right angles to the plane of a wall of said conduit up into the fitting and a rounded surface on the lower end of one wall of said conduit for safeguarding against injury to a wire engaging said surface.

7. The combination with a metallic hollow beam sub-floor forming a flooring conduit provided with an opening in the top thereof. of a fitting mounted upon the conduit and having a deflector extending down into the conduit for deflecting a wire moved from the conduit up into the fitting, and a rounded surface-opposite and above the face. of said deflector forming a rounded pulling surface for safeguarding against injury to a wire engaging said surface.

8. The combination with an electric wiring conduit, of a fitting operatively supported thereon and extending into the same and having deflecting means extending into the conduit for deflecting a wire up into the fitting.

9. A fitting of the character described comprising an upright conduit having provision for supporting an electrical receptacle in the upper portion thereof, and a deflecting member. projecting beyond the lower end of the conduit for insertion into a wiring conduit to deflect wires up into the fitting.

10. The combination with an electrical wiring conduit, of a fitting operatively supported thereon with the interior of the fitting in open communication with the interior of the wiring conduit and deflecting-means extended from the .fitting into the conduit for deflecting a wire tion with the interior of theflooring conduit and deflecting means extending from the fitting into the conduit for deflecting a wire from the conduit into the fitting. v

12. A fitting of the character described comprising a hollow upright member, a supporting member secured to the hollow upright member near the bottom thereof, and a deflecting member attached to said upright member and extended below the said supporting member to enter a conduit upon which the upright mem-- ber is positioned by said supporting member.

. V EDWARD B. SARGENT. 

